Wall structure



G. G. ELLlN'wooD 2,362,252

WALL STRUCTURE I Filed Aug. 24, 1942 INVENTOR. 6.90565 6. ELL/M000@ Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITEDV STATES. PATENT OFFICE WALL STRUCTURE lGeorge G. Ellinwood, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 24, 1942, serial No. 455,866

Claims.

The present invention deals with wall structures and is concerned primarily with the joinder of adjacent panels and the mode of attaching such panels to rafters, studs, or similar structural elements toprovide what is, in effect, a floating wall." Y

The use of wallboards in the art of building construction is every day becoming more prevalent. Ordinarily, these wallboards are made from appropriate compositions and arev cut into panels of standard size. These panels are mounted on rafters, studs, or the like, and it is important that the line of joinder between adjacent panels be as imperceptible as possible. While it has been possible at the time of. initial installation to attain a desired degree of nicety in the joint this desired condition of the joint is not maintained after prolonged periods. 'I'his is due to the tendthe influences of stresses and strains which may be set up because of the drying out of any of the parts or settling of the building construction.

With the foregoing conditions in mind this invention has in view'as its foremost objective the provision of a floating wall. This shiftable or movable characteristic is imparted to the wall by a novel and improved joint between adjacent wallboard panels and which joint also includes means for attaching the panels to a rafter or formed with groovesv opening into each other.-

The formation of these grooves provides outer and inner lips. The outer lips are in abutting relation while the innerlips are cut away to provide-a spaced relation. A T-shaped connecting element is positioned in the grooves and spaced between the cut away lips. An important fea- 'ture is the dimensional relation of this connecting member to the grooves in which it is itted. The connecting member has a shape corresponding to the grooves and space aforesaid, but is of smaller dimensions. Ihis connecting member is securely attached to a rafter and when received in the groove structure of the wallboard ample space is left to provide for the floating action aforesaid.

An important object of the' invention is the provision of a wall structure of the character above noted in which a, joinder strip underlies the faces of the outer lips and which joinder'strip 5 is permanently and securely aiiixed thereto as by the use of an adhesive.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a wall structure of the type above set forth in which the grooves in the wallboard are provided with a metallic lining.

invention such as arise in connection with the carrying out of the above noted thoughts in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a novel wall structure including a joint between adjacent wallboard panels together with means for attachtural element. vThe wallboards are connected to each other and the rafter by the provision of a permanent joint at the outer face of the panels at the s ame time providing a iioating relation with respect to the rafter on which the panels are mounted.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a wall and ceiling which are constructed from wallboard panels and assembled in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed section through a preferred type of connection,

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 of amodiled form, and

Figure 4 is another section similar to Figures 2 and 3 of still another modification.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and rst more particularly the Figure 1, a wall identiiied in its entirety by the reference character W is shown as upstanding from a door F to aceiling C. The wall W comprises a plurality of studs I0 which are spaced apart in a wellknown manner, and on which are mounted panels Il which in accordancev with this invention are in floating relation to the studs. Obviously if there is to be a floating relation there mu'st be space is provided at the bottom between the lowermost wallboard panel Il and a bottom piece Various other objects and advantages of theA ing said panels to a rafter, stud, or similar strucspace permitting of movement of the wall. This tional oorboard Il extends sumclently to conceal the space I3 from occupants of the room.

At the top of the wall W there is a corner piece I5 which is spaced from the uppermost wallboard panel Il, the space being indicated at I6. A corner molding I1 may be anchored to the corner piece l5 in any preferred manner such as by the fastening element represented at i8.

The ceiling C is of a floating construction corresponding to the Wall W, the ceiling being made up of wallboard panels il that are mounted on studs ID in the manner above described. Spaces i9 at each side of the ceiling C provide for the floating action.

In the above described wall structure it is evident thatthe wallboard panels il must be movable with respect to the studs ill. This end is attained by the now to be described joints which connect not only adjacent wallboard panels, but also mount these panels on' the studs lil.

Referring now to Figure 2, a pair of adjacent panels Il is there illustrated, the confronting edges of the panels il are formed with grooves 2li. A top wall of each groove is continued out beyond the lower wall to provide abutting lips 2 i. A metallic lining 22 is positioned in the confronting grooves 20. The lining 22 includes a top wall that is permanently secured to the underface of the lips 2l, and the top walls of the groove 2li as by an adhesive. This top wall is formed with a series of appropriately spaced openings 23 to accommodate the drives of nails, as will be later pointed out.

At each side the lining 22 includes a channel construction that is co-exterisive with and snugly received in the respective groove 2B. It is well to note that when the panels il are assembled there is no relative movement between the lining 22 and the panels.

A connecting member of a general T-lke formation is shown as comprising a base 2@ and side flanges 25. The base 2G engages one of the studs l0 as illustrated, While the side flanges 25 extend partially into the channel formation of the lining 22. l

It is important to note that a definite predetermined space between the side edges of the flanges 25 andthe bottom of the channels of the lining 22 is provided; the spacing being represented at 2t., There is an equal spacing between the side faces of the base 2li and the ccnfronting edges of the panels l l. These spaces being represented at 2l.

In describing the mode of assembling the joint at Figure 2, it will be assumed that the panel Il at the left is in its assembled position in the Wall. The lining 22 is now placed with the channel construction at the side snugly tted in the groove 2Q, and appropriate adhesive may be employed to establish a firm connection between the lining 22 and the panel H.

When the lining 22 is so assembled, the openings 23 will be disposed at one side of the edge of the lip 2|. These are thus accessible for having the fastening elements such as nails 28 driven therethrough. When the linings 22 are assembled as above pointed out, they will enclose the connecting member 24-25. The base 24 o f this connecting member is properly positioned on the stud l0 and the nails 28 then driven. The wallboard panel Il at right is then fitted over the lining 22 after a suitable adhesive has been applied to the lips 2l brought into abutting relation. This completes the assembly of the particular joint.

In the form of the invention depicted in Figure 3, substantially the same construction illustratedin Figure 2 and above described is present. The only difference being that the lining 22 is replaced by a so-called sealing strip 29 'which is preferably of metal and which is anchored to the underface of the lips 2l. This strip 2.9 is formed with the oil-set opening 30 to accommodate the nails 28. In the form of the invention illustrated in bled on the. studs l0 by the joint of either Figurev 2 or 3, a floating relation between the panels and the studs is established, and when the presence of the spaces I3 and i6 is considered, it is evident that the wall W is free to float, and thus is enabled to take up any stresses and strains which might be created by the drying out of the boards, the settling of the building, or for other reasons. Were it not for this floating relation, these stresses and strains would tend to warp the boards, but the movement of the panels Il permits these stresses to be taken up Without distortion.

While preferred speciiic embodiments are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described, because various modications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice, Within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A Wall structure of the character described comprising a pair of adjacent wallboard panels having meeting edges, each ofsaid panels being formed with a groove opening into its meeting edge, the groove in each panel providing an outer lip and an inner lip, said outer lips being in abutting relation, a joining strip permanently secured to the under surface of said outer lips, said inner lips being spaced, a T-shaped connecting member movably positioned in said groove and having a base in spaced relation to said inner lips, and means for anchoring said connecting member to a structural element.

2. A wall structure of the character described comprising a pair of adjacent Wallboard panels having meeting edges, each of said panels being formed with a groove opening into its meeting edge, the groove in each panel providing an outer lip and an inner lip, said outer lips being in abutting relationa joining strip permanently secured to the under surface of said outer lips, said inner lips being spaced, a T-shaped connecting member having a cross-head positioned in said grooves with the edges of the cross-head spaced from the bottoms of the grooves and a base spaced at each side from said inner lips, said base being formed with a passage extending therethrough, and fastening means extending through said passage for xedly securing said connecting member to a structural element.

3. A wall structure of the character described comprising a pair of adjacent wallboard panels having meeting edges, each of said panels being formed with a groove opening into its meeting edge, said groove providing an outer lip and an inner lip, a lining member for saidvgrooves extending around the inner surfaces of 4said lips,

means for flxedly securing said lining to the said outer lips to provide a smooth, substantially continuous 'outer wallboard surface, a connecting membermovable in said grooves and spaced from said inner lips, and means for anchoring said connecting member to a structural element.

4. A wall structure of the character described comprising a pair of adjacent wallboard panels having meeting edges, each of said panels being formed with a groove opening into its meeting edge,.the groove in each panel providing an inner lip and an outer lip in thatV panel, said outer lips being in abutting relation, a metallic lining member in said groove fully lining the inner surfaces of said lips `and the bottoms of said grooves, said metallic lining member being cemented to the under side of said outer lips, a T-shaped connecting member having a crosshead the edges of which are spaced from the bottoms of said grooves and a base spaced from said inner lips, .said base being formedwith a passage, and a fastening member extending through said passage for securelyanchoring said connecting member to a structural element.

5. In a floating wall structure of the character described, a floor piece, a corner piece, a plurality of studs, a plurality of wallboard panels anchored to said studs in floating relation with respect thereto and with the lowermost panel spaced from said floor piece, and the uppermost panel `spaced from said corner piece, said oating relation being established Aby connecting members xedly secured to said studs and havingportions l GEORGE G. ELLINWOOD. 

